reporter: while some of the president's most prominent items fell well below the economy in budget deficit among top concerns, mr. obama is prepared to cast them in economic terms as well, citing the benefitof attracting the world's best minds. the president's tone will matter, tomatter t, too. >> he can continue the approach he's taken, cl which is very mu an outside game. turn up the heat. or he can go to a more conciliatory tone. >> reporter: he has three stops after the speech, asheville, north carolina. atlanta, georgia. winding down in his hometown of chicago. >> all right, peter. we want to remind everyone, nbc news will have live coverage of the state of union address on tuesday at 9:00 eastern. >>> gunfire erupted on enormous' famed bourbon street overnight, wounding four people and sending mardi gras revelers running for cover. police said the shooting followed an argument. two men and two women were hit. one of those injured is in guarded condition. the shooter still at large. new orleans has for years suffered an epidemic of gun violence, earning it the distinction of being the